Your most unexpectedly useful tool?

My most unexpectedly useful tool, and it's not even a proper tool, is a child's hand mirror. It's incredibly useful when trying to see what's below the floor boards, behind kitchen cabinets or underneath a car, etc., and it only cost me about €2.

I'm going to cheat a little- I've got two, well one is home made so does that even count?

First up is my "magnetic pick up tool", made from a piece of plastic air line with a neodymium magnet pushed in one end. Such a simple thing but so handy- replacing loose bearings in a bicycle hub? Use this to fish out the old bearings, especially when they drop down into the centre! Picking up small screws and parts, fishing out pieces of metal from the sweepings in the dustpan, removing loose swarf after drilling steel etc.

The other item is my BOEHM hollow punch kit which I bought many years ago for a specific project, it was expensive then but eye wateringly so now. Great for making washers, gaskets, craftwork with leather, plastic, card and plastic films. So useful for repairs and the like. It's not an everyday tool but nothing else can do what it does.

cletus wrote: »

It's not that the tool itself is unexpectedly useful, because I think most people would agree that it's very useful.

It's more that I find unexpected uses for it. I use it more than I ever thought I would.

Have to agree. Don't use mine often, but when needed is invaluable. Had to measure the diameter of my bike handlebars last week for new grips. Your only man:)